His Wife Guards Him with a Gentile

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Question

I work in an office with a couple of Gentiles. Is there a problem of seclusion with the Gentile man when his wife is with me in the office?

Answer

Indeed, there is a problem of seclusion, as there is no allowance for his wife to guard him among Gentiles, even if there are many people and their wives with them.

Source

Gemara Avodah Zarah, page 25. And the text is: "A Gentile's wife does not guard him, but a Jewish wife guards him." This is ruled by the Shulchan Aruch, Even HaEzer, laws of marriage, chapter 22: "Any woman with whom seclusion is forbidden, if his wife is with him, it is permitted to be secluded, because his wife guards him. But a Jewish woman should not be secluded with a Gentile, even if his wife is with him." The Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, chapter 153, section 4 adds: "A Jewish woman should not be secluded with Gentiles, even if there are many and their wives are with them."

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